Comparison

Insect Identifier vs BugKnow

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Insect Identifier

Identify thousands of insects, bugs, pests, and butterflies using your phone's camera. Simply point and scan to learn about wildlife around you through a rich database. Upgrade for unlimited identifications and detailed information.

Highlights
  • Identify thousands of insects and bugs
  • High accuracy image recognition
  • Discover butterflies and wildlife
  • Rich database information
  • AI-powered learning engine
  • Unlimited scans with Premium
Features
Read full description

Found a bug and wondering what it is? Point your camera at it or pick a photo from your library, and get its name, whether it's dangerous, and everything worth knowing about it. WHAT YOU GET WITH EVERY SCAN: • Common and scientific name, with a match score • Pest or friend? Its effect on your plants, and how to control it if it's a pest • How to tell it apart from lookalikes • Life cycle from egg to adult • What it eats and what eats it • Size, colors, habitat, lifespan and where in the world it lives • Where and when to find it, with observation tips • Answers to common questions, plus fun facts • Reference photos to compare with yours INSECTS, SPIDERS AND MORE: Butterflies and moths, beetles and ladybugs, bees, wasps and ants, spiders, ticks and scorpions, flies and mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites, caterpillars, grasshoppers, dragonflies and more. HOW IT WORKS: Take a photo with the camera or choose one from your library. The app identifies it and saves the result to your history, so you can come back to it anytime. Save favorites to My Collection and search past scans by name. Works on iPhone and iPad. PRO SUBSCRIPTION: Identifying insects requires a Pro subscription. Prices and billing periods are shown in the app before you buy. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel it anytime in your Apple account settings. Privacy Policy: https://insect-scanner-web-production.up.railway.app/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://insect-scanner-web-production.up.railway.app/terms/

About

BugKnow

Instantly identify insects, spiders, and other arthropods with a photo. Get detailed species profiles, check bites, assess pest severity, and build a personal bug collection. Connect with a community for identification help.

Highlights
  • Instant bug identification via photo
  • Detailed species profiles
  • Bite and sting reference checker
  • Pest severity assessment
  • Personal bug collection
  • Community identification help
Features
Read full description

BugKnow is a bug identifier app designed for everyday Americans who want to understand the bugs around them. Whether you're a curious homeowner, an outdoor enthusiast, or a parent trying to keep your family safe — BugKnow gives you fast answers when you need them most. Spotted something crawling across your floor? Woke up with a bite you can't explain? Found pests in your garden and don't know where to start? Open BugKnow, point your camera, and get the answers you need — instantly. Key Features: Instant Bug Identification Identify thousands of insect species, spiders, and other arthropods with a single photo. Fast, accurate, and easy to use — no expertise required. In-Depth Species Profiles Explore detailed information on each species, including behavior, habitat, impact on humans and pets, life cycle, and more. Your pocket field guide, always with you. Bite Checker Not sure what bit you? Upload a photo of the bite or sting area and get a reference result based on visual patterns. For informational purposes only — not a medical tool. Pest Severity Assessment Found signs of an infestation at home? Answer a few quick questions and get a reference assessment of how serious the situation may be, along with practical next steps. Build Your Bug Collection Save every find and organize your discoveries into custom folders. Track the species you've encountered and build your personal insect collection over time. Community Bug Identification Help Not confident in your ID? Post your find and let fellow enthusiasts help you figure it out. Together, we know more. end user license agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ privacy policy: https://bugknow.com/privacy-policy/ terms of use: https://bugknow.com/terms-of-use/ Support: Support@bugknow.com

Screenshots

Insect Identifier4 screens
BugKnow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BugKnow at 100% against Insect Identifier's 10%. BugKnow also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Insect Identifier's advantage is ratings volume (1.3K vs 15) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Insect Identifier sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and BugKnow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BugKnow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Insect Identifier has 1.3K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of Insect Identifier's written reviews are positive against 100% of BugKnow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Insect Identifier ships an update every 5 weeks, BugKnow every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Insect Identifier versus BugKnow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInsect IdentifierBugKnow
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (1.3K ratings)4.7 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews9.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K — better15
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB140 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRLAM FZCOSenseWake Limited

Customer experience

Insect Identifier

All ratings1,298 ratings
Positive51.5%
Neutral5.0%
Negative43.5%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive9.5%
Neutral4.0%
Negative86.5%

BugKnow

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Insect Identifier

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Fails to identify common insects
  • Misidentifies insects
  • Subscription issues and cancellation problems

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improve accuracy for small insects
  • Expand insect database
  • Add more user-friendly features

BugKnow

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Insect Identifier

Subscriptions4
  • identify bug bites by photo$6.997 Days
  • Insect Bug Scanner Premium$7.997 Days
  • Insect Scanner Premium 1 month$19.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Insect Scanner Premium 1 year$39.991 Year
2 purchases

BugKnow

Subscriptions2
  • Bugknow Annual Plan7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • BugKnow VIP Annual1 Month trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Insect Identifier free?
Insect Identifier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BugKnow free?
BugKnow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Insect Identifier or BugKnow?
BugKnow is rated higher. Insect Identifier averages 3.1 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while BugKnow averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Insect Identifier or BugKnow have ads?
Neither Insect Identifier nor BugKnow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Insect Identifier or BugKnow?
Insect Identifier ships an update every 5 weeks, and BugKnow every 3 months. Most recently, Insect Identifier was updated on October 11, 2026 and BugKnow on October 7, 2026.

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